Safe Schools

The Accepting Schools Act came into full force on February 1, 2013. The main purposes of this legislation and subsequent provincial policy statements are to strengthen equity and inclusive education principles, bullying prevention and intervention strategies, and progressive discipline strategies. This act is a part of the Ministry of Education’s Comprehensive Action Plan for accepting schools.

• View the Ministry of Education’s Information for Parents about the Accepting Schools Act (Bill 13)  
• View our Board’s Presentation for School Councils on Bill 13

Ontario’s Code of Conduct sets out clear standards of behaviour that apply to everyone in the school community, including students, parents and guardians, teachers or other staff members, volunteers, visitors, and third-party groups which are using school facilities. The Code of Conduct applies on school property, on school buses, during school-related activities, and in any other circumstances that could have an impact on the school climate.

View Ontario’s Code of Conduct

View our Board’s Safe Schools Policy

View our Board_School Code of Conduct

Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy

Our Board is committed to the life and mission of the Catholic Church by providing a learning environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, record of offences, marital status, or family status or disability, in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and Ontario Ministry of Education policy.

• View the Ministry of Education’s Quick Facts – Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy
• View our Board’s Equity and Inclusive Education Policy

Our Board recognizes that progressive discipline involves a whole-school approach that makes use of a continuum of prevention programs, interventions, supports, and consequences that build skills for healthy relationships and promotes respectful student behaviour.

View our Board’s Progressive Discipline Policy

Every school in the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board has a progressive discipline policy that is based on our Board’s policy. Please visit the website of your child’s school to view its progressive discipline policy.

The Board also recognizes that inappropriate student behaviour, including bullying, must be addressed in a way that is both supportive and corrective and that takes into consideration mitigating and other circumstances.

View our Board’s Guidelines for Responding to and Reporting on Student Incidents

Bullying is an aggressive and typically repeated behaviour intended to have the effect of:

• causing harm, fear or distress to another individual, including physical, psychological, social or academic harm, harm to the individual’s reputation or harm to the individual’s property, or
• creating a negative environment at a school for another individual

Bullying behaviour occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance between the perpetrator and the victim based on factors such as size, strength, age, intelligence, economic or social status, religion, ethnic origin, gender, race, disability or the receipt of special education.

For the purposes of the definition of bullying, behaviour includes the use of any physical, verbal, electronic, written or other means.

Bullying will not be accepted on school property, at school-related activities, on school buses, or in any other circumstances where engaging in bullying will have a negative impact on the school climate.

View our District Bullying Prevention Intervention Plan 2024

View our Bullying Prevention and Intervention brochure for Parents & Guardians

Every school in the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board has its own bullying prevention and intervention plan that is based on our Board’s plan.

View our Board’s Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan

Please visit the website of your child’s school to view its bullying prevention and intervention plan.

Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board Risk/Threat Assessment Notification:

Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board is committed to a vision to engage, support and inspire all learners to achieve and succeed. Safety in schools is fundamental to learning and well-being for all students. Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board is committed to creating and maintaining safe, caring, and accepting school environments. As a result, the Board will respond to all student behaviours that pose a potential risk to other students, staff, and members of the school community through the process of violence threat risk assessment. The effective implementation of the Violence Threat Risk Assessment Protocol will support collaborative planning to prevent traumatic events. In addition, the timely sharing of information about students at risk for violence towards self and/or others will ensure that supportive plans are put in place for the student and school community. The goal of this protocol is to remove, or reduce as far as possible, any threats to the safety of students, parents, school staff, other persons, the school, or other buildings or property, that arise from any actions engaged in, by students or their peers, on school property or in the community. A vision of violence prevention in our schools and neighbourhoods is a community responsibility. All partners are accountable and have a shared obligation to take active steps to prevent and reduce threats and acts of violence in our schools and community. This means the timely sharing of information, advice, and support to assist in the prevention of violence.